Ministry gets behind R.AGE’s anti-bullying campaign

KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is throwing its support behind R.AGE’s #StandTogether campaign, an annual bullying prevention week in schools across the country to promote kindness in schools.

The campaign aims to mobilise volunteers, particularly former students, parents and teachers, to independently organise bullying prevention events or activities in their schools every first week of April, starting with April 2-6, 2018.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan tweeted his support for the campaign, launched on Monday as part of a joint initiative by Star Media Group and property developer SP Setia.

“Excellent anti-bullying campaign initiative,” read Kama­lanathan’s tweet, which also said the ministry will support R.AGE in making this the “beginning of the end of bullying” in Malaysian schools.

In a message to R.AGE later, Kamalanathan said the ministry views bullying as a very serious matter, and has zero tolerance for it.

He said an initiative similar to #StandTogether was launched in Hulu Selangor schools recently, but he is open to collaborating with any organisations to further the cause.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon also released a statement in support of the campaign.

“The ministry is more than happy to support the #StandTogether initiative, because it means that schools nationwide will become safe places for our future leaders,” read Chong’s statement.

R.AGE is developing an online resource centre where volunteers can download a week-long programme and organise their own #StandTogether activities in schools.

The campaign is targeting former students, school societies, college and university groups, and parents to volunteer.

Former Education Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin also called on the ministry to join the #StandTogether initiative.

“Bullying is a societal issue, and the sudden surge of bullying cases is a worrying trend. Everyone has a role to play,” said Dr Wan Mohd Zahid, who is chairman of SP Setia and Setia Foundation.

“However, we hope they participate because they care about the students, and not just out of bureaucratic duty.”

The nationwide #StandTogether kindness week will take place on April 2-6, 2018. To find out how you can support the campaign and help end bullying in schools, go to fb.com/StandTogetherMY or contact R.AGE via Facebook Messenger (@thestarRAGE).